Maria Sharapova says the media is just making trouble, but the lop-sided matches in the women’s draw have continued.

Serena Williams, Ana Ivanovic and Sharapova had easy wins with Petra Kvitova one of the few elite players who had to struggle.

But Sharapova, who beat the US’s Jamie Hampton 6-0 6-1, said it was impossible to say there was little depth in the women’s game as things changed very quickly.

“You never know what you are going to get,” she said.

From her point of view, it was just the media trying to find an angle.

“I think it’s just an excuse to make another story. That’s really what it all comes down to.”

Sharapova said major tournaments like the Australian Open were her focus now. She was also looking forward to competing at the Olympics in London this year, having missed out on Beijing.

Williams won even more comfortably, beating Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova 6-0 6-0. Williams twisted an ankle during the match but afterwards said it was not a problem.

Ana Ivanovic beat Michaella Krajicek in straight sets in the opening match on Hisense Arena. To prepare for Krajicek’s strong serve, Ivanovic said she had been practising against men.

“It’s been good to apply things I worked on in the off-season,” she said, but added “there are no easy matches’’.

Kvitova is one of the tournament favourites but had to survive a scare against Carla Suarez Navarro. The tall Czech player won the first set easily but unexpectedly found herself trailing 3-0 in the second set, which Navarro went on to win.